Tesla Motor's all-electric four-door sedan is no stranger to accolades and the entry-level model proves this. Respected automotive publication "Car & Driver" named the Tesla Model S 70D the "Car of the Century."
The publication described the Model S a "breakthrough electric car" that offers "attractive design, a remarkable interior, and entertaining performance."
"Combining the aforementioned virtues with significant new features and a modest increase in price makes the Tesla Model S 70D reviewed here, the ultimate in four-door sedan engineering and technology."
Car & Driver praised the EV for its "enthusiast-grade performance, handsome styling [and] top-notch cabin" although cautioned of pre-planning trips due to range anxiety.
Introduced earlier this year in April, the Tesla Model S 70D has an all-wheel drive setup that has a 0 to 60 time of 5.2 seconds and a range of 250 miles at 65 mph, according to Tesla. The 329hp 70kWh battery drives the car to a top speed of 140 mph.
Tesla says the actual cost of owning one "comes to about $55k over five years" after fuel savings and incentives are factored in. Owners can travel for free via Tesla Supercharger stations scattered all over the country.
The starting price of $76,200 can be brought down after federal tax credits and incentives.
Despite the hefty price tag, it looks like owning a Model S is a sound investment. Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter that the EV has a higher resale value than its rivals.
Important to note that Model S resale value is also higher than that of gasoline cars
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 23, 2015
Musk cited data from the National Automobile Dealers Association, according to ValueWalk. A 2012 Model S was reportedly compared with the Toyota Rav 4 EV, Mitsubishi i-MieV, Ford Focus Electric, Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf.
"Though the Model S is the most expensive of the lot, it depreciated the least in three years, maintaining 57.2 percent value retention. In contrast, the cheaper Rav4 EV managed to retain only 47.6 percent of its value. The worst performer was Mitsubishi, losing 80 percent of its value in the last three years."
ValueWalk said lower prices at the pumps may account for other EV makers' significant drops in value retention.
